Southern California -- this just in

Christina Aguilera released from custody, won't face criminal charges

March 1, 2011 | 8:28
am

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials released Christina Aguilera on Tuesday morning after arresting her on suspicion of public drunkenness, and said they don't plan to seek criminal charges against the singer.

Rather, Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore said the arrest will go on her record but the case will not be forwarded to prosecutors. He said Aguilera was taken into custody for her own safety and that the circumstances don't merit criminal charges.

"There will no court date, and there will be no prosecution," he said.

Officials said that at around 2:45 a.m. deputies initiated a DUI investigation after noticing a motorist who was driving erratically. The driver, who was not immediately identified, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Inside the car, deputies noticed Aguilera, who was described by authorities as being "very intoxicated," according to one source familiar with the case.

Deputies decided that Aguilera would not be able to drive safely on her own and, using a provision of the law that allows them to hold individuals in protective custody, took her to the West Hollywood sheriff's station and booked her on a misdemeanor, the source said.

Officials said the law allows them to keep an individual in custody for safety reasons.

Aguilera made headlines at the Super Bowl for forgetting some words for the national anthem. She later issued an apology: "I got so caught up in the moment of the song that I lost my place. I can only hope that everyone could feel my love for this country and that the true spirit of its anthem still came through."